operation for three summers, the "Farmerettes" are known and liked, 
and the farmers depend upon them. There have been three success- 
ful units this summer, each housing from ten to fifteen women; all 
these were kept busy and at intervals more were needed. The labor 
turnover was less than in war years; many of the women stayed the 
whole season and took a serious interest in their work. A co-operative 
system of housekeeping was adopted, the women receiving their money 
directly from their employers and paying their own Hving expenses; 
the largest unit employed a cook; the others divided the work among 
themselves. The housing problem is always difficult. War experience 
showed that women must have a pleasant life of their own if work on 
the land is to be robbed of its drudgery and made to take its place 
among worthy vocations. Evenings and holidays spent alone or amid 
distasteful surroundings are as discouraging in the country as any- 
where else. The solution shows a congenial group living in a conven- 
ient house or well arranged tent camp — whether working for one em- 
ployer or for a neighborhood. 
Another perplexing problem is the overlapping of seasons. Teach- 
ers, students and many business women are free only from June 
to September. These then can be only mid-summer gardeners, 
helpers in the rush season. From April to October others must be 
sought. 
It may be asked whether people are willing to employ women on 
the land now that the war is over. They certainly are when the women 
make good, as in the majority of cases they do. There never are 
enough gardeners or garden helpers even in the best of times, nor 
enough people for seasonal work such as berry-picking and weeding, 
while a competent trained specialist for poultry, dairy, or greenhouse 
can choose her own place. 
Certain facts stand out: first, a steady demand for trained women 
to fill responsible positions, a demand at present far exceeding the 
supply; second, a steady, though limited, supply of women who are 
ready to learn; third, the great need of training both for gardeners 
and helpers; fourth, the necessity for employers to get together to 
provide proper housing; and last, and most important of all, is the 
intangible element, the right attitude toward women in this new pro- 
fession on the part both of the garden owner and of her men em- 
ployees. Where the right atmosphere exists the work succeeds; 
where it does not, all is failure. 
Our hope should be to see in America more schools of horticulture, 
training women as they are trained in England, and turning out for 
us the efficient lady gardener who is the mainstay of many an English 
garden. More women should study in agricultural colleges and train- 
ing schools. Garden Clubs may do much to hasten the coming of this 
new supply of competent garden workers, for it is noteworthy that 
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